Comments on: Ernie Harwell’s memorabilia collection is at risk

By: The Rabbit

The Rabbit — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:41:57 +0000

The question(s): Were these items bequeathed to the City or was it a gift? If bequeathed, what were the provisions of Ernie Harwell’s will? Did he leave these treasures to the City of Detroit/library? If to the City/library, do the terms of the will allow it to sell the collection? Is it even addressed? (I’m not a lawyer but I’ve dealt extensively with asset transfers, foundations, and trusts during my career.)
If it can be sold, you have to be careful here. You don’t want to see the colllection broken up and sold on E-Bay. Given Detroit’s financial position, the Hall may be able to acquire them.
If not available for sale, then you’ll need a benefactor, foundation, or corporation to preserve the collection in Detroit. The city is not going to spend the money and given its current finances, maybe it shouldn’t.
How you proceed depends on these answers.

By: skerney

skerney — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:21:18 +0000

What?! I thought Detroits public infrastructure was all aces these days!

By: trevorb06

trevorb06 — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:34:16 +0000

Although I live in Minnesota I would love to help. Anything I can do?

By: yankeesfanlen

yankeesfanlen — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:43:58 +0000

Unfortunately, Tigersfanrob is something of an Inspector Clouseau.

By: yankeesfanlen

yankeesfanlen — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:41:45 +0000

Have sent a notice and e-mail link to historical dept. at HOF. Some pizza money will help, good idea heynerdlinger, will work that angle.

By: CJ

CJ — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:14:31 +0000

Get a plant to work a the library and, if it’s THAT uncontrolled, lift one piece at a time and funnell it (pro bono, of course) through back channels to where it belongs…Cooperstown.

Just sayin’

By: heynerdlinger

heynerdlinger — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:11:22 +0000

You’d think that the Tigers organization could find a couple million dollars to throw at the library in exchange for this collection.

By: yankeesfanlen

yankeesfanlen — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:54:11 +0000

Okay, Craig and interested others: Something must be done about this. My project is to find and petition the Baseball Hall of Fame and anyone else I can think of to guard this history. He was the 1981 receipient of the Ford Frick award, so maybe I can find some interest there.
Tigersfanrob is in Ireland at the moment but will lend a hand when he returns.
As we can see by the atrocious way the city of Detroit handled Tigers Stadium, we need to do something.
Any other ideas will be welcome.